Christians ONLY please: What does Romans 3:28 mean?

Question

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

JR,
You just contradicted yourself. . . and Galatians and Romans.

Like a stone,
That's not salvation by faith then!

witnessnbr1,
You just called Romans 3:28 a lie!

eatonwrite,
No, not as easy as it might sound to you! Jesus was the only one who pleased God by his works.

micshys,
The Law was there to convince us that we sin. Hebrews 12:2 for you.

INCOGNITO,
I thi9nk that you have it backwards. Fundamentalists believe that you are justified by works. Like what you are preaching. Are you a fundamentalist?

Dr. G™,
It's been my experience that God does respond to what I do.

Answer 1

"For it is by grace, you have been saved, -and this is not of yourselves, it is a Gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."Eph 2:8,9†

"Now we know,that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable. Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law, rather through the law, we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness, from God apart from the law has been made known..."

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely, by His Grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood"...

"He did this to demonstrate His Justice, in His forbearance, He had left the sins committed unpunished-He did it to demonstrate His Justice at the present time-so as to be Just, and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus Christ. Where, then is boasting? It is excluded...." Romans 3:19-27†

"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him, everyone who believes, is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." Acts 13:38,39†

".....a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Christ Jesus. So we too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith, in Christ, and not by observing the law, because by observing the law, no one will be justified."
Gal 2:16†

"Wherefore, through the law, I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the Grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained, through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Gal 2:19-21†

"For what the law was powerless to do, because it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of a sinful humanity, to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in human flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law, might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit." Rom 8:3,4†

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life, has set you free from the law of sin & death." Rom 8:1†

**"Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" Rom 3:28†

Answer 2

Christians are not under the Mosaic Law covenant. That was for the Hebrews, or Israelites.The deeds of the Law were the sacrifices, etc. mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy. There were over 600 laws the Israelites had to keep. The Law was a tutor leading them to the Christ.(Galatians 3:24)

Also, notice it said "justified" by faith. Faith is not the only thing a person should have. (James 2:26) We must be obedient and that takes fine godly works. (2nd Thessalonians 1:6-9)

Answer 3

Any time you see a verse that starts out "therefore", you have to look back to see what the "therefore" is there for.

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Basically, 3:23 sums it up - we're all sinners, none of us measures up to the demands of the law, but through the grace of God we are justified (JUST as IFI'd never sinned)

Answer 4

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31

You can't keep the law w/o Christ in the heart. You can't have Christ in the heart without faith.

Read it all in context before you throw out the Ten Commandments.

There are 2 laws: The Mosaic Law & The Ten Commanments. When you read Galatians, Romans, etc don't get them confused. One was done away with, the other was not.

Answer 5

For the most part, the answers given here are good, but there hasn't been an explanation for the context.

The 'law' in this text refers to the Law of Moses also known as the Ten Commandments. What had happened in the few thousand years between Moses and Paul is that the Jewish religious leaders tacked on other things to the Law given by God, thus corrupting the whole body of law with sin (Keep in mind, I'm referring to the whole body, not God's Word; that is incorruptible.) The Pharisees were diligent in observing Christ to see if He broke any of the Laws. Whenever He broke one of the tacked on laws-they would point it out in order to try to discredit Him. Check out Luke 6:6.

The whole body of law at that time required a lot of 'hokey-pokey put-your-left-foot-in and-your-right-foot-out and make-a-donation-at-the-door' activities by those who wanted to be right with God. It was possible for people to look good on the outside, but inside have a heart black and foul. Ponder the Pharisees words right before Christ tells the parable of the Good Samaritan beginning at Luke 10:25

Paul is saying here, in Romans 3:28 "Oh, no! You are not right with God because of anything you do, but rather you are right with God, because of everything Christ has done. All you have to do is believe."

In the end though, faith and belief are given to us as blessings, so in reality, it's all God saving us. Doesn't God just rock? Isn't He the coolest?

Answer 6

Martin Luther actually translated this passage translating it from the Hebrew and even though adding the word alone accurately presents what The Lord intended it to mean.
If you would take the time, as I have to answer your Q, to read James, Ch 2, that would give you a much clearer picture of what your asking.
Also Romans 13:1
Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God.
13:2
So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.
13:3
For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well.

Answer 7

I am i Christian. This chapter in Romans talks about the law and faith. What i understand is the law itself is good. Jesus fulfilled the law. But u see, the law can not change the heart of man. It is impossible for humans to fulfill all the requirements of the law. We can not earn our righteousness from observing the law, because we can't fulfill the law. The Bible says if u brake just one part of the law, then u brake the whole law. Only Jesus can change the hearts of men. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are clothed in He's righteousness that comes by faith. We did nothing to earn this righteousness, its a gift. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Man has his Sins forgiven through Jesus and not through the 10 commandments. The Law was the common term used to describe the 10 commandments and the law in which the Pharisees devised. The Pharisees were the experts of the law and the belief was that through sacrifices and offerings in the strict regimented way that was practice at the time one can be saved. This passage debunks the Law and says that through Faith in Jesus you are saved.

Answer 9

The answer to your question is found in Romans 3:26 & 27 (plus what leads up to it, but we'll focus here for now.)

In verse 27, Paul utilizes two items: the law of works and the law of faith. Look at how he phrased the question. "By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." So, we're comparing two laws; it's works versus faith. Both are "laws" as Paul is explaining it; and they are. You can apply these laws and get certain results from them, just like you can apply laws of physics and expect certain results. Paul is simply showing that the law of works will not justify a person. However, he demonstrates that the law of faith will.

Verse 25 mentions the forbearance of God. This leads into verse 26 where Paul declares that God is just and that God is the justifier of those that believe in Christ Jesus. That's the law of faith. When a person "believeth in Jesus", God justifies them. That's the "law of faith".

The point is to show that you cannot earn your way to salvation. Otherwise, you could boast. Paul said that "boasting is excluded". Why? Because, although any one can brag about their good deeds, no one can brag about the grace of God through faith. Bragging, or boasting, is put out of the way.

The next question then goes like this. "Since I'm saved by grace, and works can't save me, do my works after salvation matter at all?"

The Bible is clear on this. It's Paul that puts it this way in Romans chapter 6.

"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

Although we cannot earn our way into salvation, God hasn't given us a license to just live anyway we want. Good deeds won't result in salvation, but salvation does result in good works. Here's proof:

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Good works follow salvation. They are a result of salvation, not a way to earn it. Salvation cannot be earned. It is granted by God to those who accept Christ in a reality.

Answer 10

Verse 31 says, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea we establish the law." Because you love God you will keep the law...it is about motives in keeping the law. You do not get points by keeping the law because then that is your reward. You do it from a heart filled with love, obedience and faith. "If you love me, Keep my commandments". "Here are the patience of the saints, here are those that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus". This last verse is in Revelation and shows the importance and link between the old and new testament. Mmm

Answer 11

Galatians 2:16

know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Remember, you also have to show your faith by action, and by following Gods commandments.